Controversial Trump aide out

Sebastian Gorka says he has resigned, which the White House disputes

WASHINGTON )AP) — Sebastian Gorka, a White House national security aide whose hardline policy views attracted controversy, is the latest official to exit President Donald Trump’s administration.

Gorka told The Associated Press Friday that he had resigned from his position. A White House official, however, said Gorka did not resign, but “no longer works at the White House.” That official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

A former editor for the conservative Breitbart News website, Gorka joined the administration as a counterterrorism adviser. But he operated outside of the National Security Council and his exact responsibilities were not clearly outlined, though he was a prominent advocate for Trump on television news.

Gorka declined to discuss the reasons he left the White House, but pointed toward excerpts from his resignation letter that were posted by The Federalist website.

Gorka wrote that “the individuals who most embodied and represented the policies that will ‘Make America Great Again,’ have been internally countered, systematically removed, or undermined in recent months.”

He criticized Trump’s recent speech on Afghanistan, writing, “The fact that those who drafted and approved the speech removed any mention of Radical Islam or radical Islamic terrorism proves that a crucial element of your presidential campaign has been lost.”

He also wrote, “the best and most effective way I can support you, Mr. President, is from outside the People’s House.”

Gorka is the latest in a string of White House exits. The most recent departure was chief strategist Steve Bannon, a key adviser in Trump’s general election campaign, but a contentious presence in a White House divided by warring staff loyalties. He quickly returned to his post at Breitbart News, where he has said he intends to continue to advocate for his views.

Other recent exits include Trump’s first press secretary, Sean Spicer, his first chief of staff, Reince Priebus, and Anthony Scaramucci, who served for just 10 days as communications director.